title: Glial calcium: homeostasis and signaling function.
abstract: Glial cells respond to various electrical, mechanical, and chemical stimuli, including neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and hormones, with an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). The increases exhibit a variety of temporal and spatial patterns. These [Ca2+]i responses result from the coordinated activity of a number of molecular cascades responsible for Ca2+ movement into or out of the cytoplasm either by way of the extracellular space or intracellular stores. Transplasmalemmal Ca2+ movements may be controlled by several types of voltage- and ligand-gated Ca(2+)-permeable channels as well as Ca2+ pumps and a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. In addition, glial cells express various metabotropic receptors coupled to intracellular Ca2+ stores through the intracellular messenger inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate. The interplay of different molecular cascades enables the development of agonist-specific patterns of Ca2+ responses. Such agonist specificity may provide a means for intracellular and intercellular information coding. Calcium signals can traverse gap junctions between glial cells without decrement. These waves can serve as a substrate for integration of glial activity. By controlling gap junction conductance, Ca2+ waves may define the limits of functional glial networks. Neuronal activity can trigger [Ca2+]i signals in apposed glial cells, and moreover, there is some evidence that glial [Ca2+]i waves can affect neurons. Glial Ca2+ signaling can be regarded as a form of glial excitability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Neurosciences, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verkhratsky
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Orkand
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kettenmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D015388:Organelles / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D002118:Calcium